The Public Has a Right to See the Late Sheriff DiPaola's Alleged Suicide Note

1,455,354 @ 12:10 pm 11/23/19


Sheriff Peter Koutoujian

400 Mystic Ave

4th Floor

Medford, MA 02155

United States

Brendan Kennedy
Records Access Officer/ Deputy Public Information Officer
781-960-2851
bkennedy@sdm.state.ma.us
400 Mystic Ave, Medford, MA 02155

https://www.middlesexsheriff.org/public-information/pages/public-records

Re: Massachusetts Public Records Request

Dear Brendan Kennedy, Kim Scanlon, Maura Healy and/or Keeper of the Records:

This is a request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 66, Section 10). I am requesting that I be provided a copy of the following records:

---the alleged suicide note found with the body of former Middlesex Sheriff James V. DiPaola

The sheriff passed on or about November 26, 2010, nine years ago.  The public has great interest in reading what the Middlesex Sheriff wrote. There are too many questions being hidden from the public.  A recent determination by the Secretary of State's office, SPR19-2081 

Attached is a November 15, 2019 determination, Page 4, SPR19/2081 which notes "...promotes the core value of trust between citizens and police essential to law enforcement and the protection of constitutional rights."   I submit that withholding information on an individual a WRKO talk show host called "the crooked sheriff," hardly promotes the "core value of trust between citizens and police essential to law enforcement and the protection of constitutional rights."  The public's need to know is much greater than former Attorney General Martha Coakley's attempt to hide the public from information that would promote this "core value of trust between citizens and police."  It is essential to law enforcement and the protection of constitutional rights that the citizens know the facts.

I recognize that you may charge reasonable costs for copies, as well as for personnel time needed to comply with this request however as a member of the press and this request being of great public interest, I kindly request that you waive all fees.

The Public Records Law requires you to provide me with a written response within 10 business days. If you cannot comply with my request, you are statutorily required to provide an explanation in writing.

Sincerely,

Joe Viglione   

CC:KIm Scanlon/Keeper of the Records

Medford City Hall

85 Geo P Hassett Drive

Medford, MA 02155

Attorney General Maura Healy

Ashburton Place

Boston, Massachusetts

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